13.02.2021 18:15 194.936
Dresden: man sets fire to himself in front of the state parliament and dies, identity still unclear
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By Eric Hofmann, Steffi Suhr, Holger Köhler-Kaeß
Dresden – Terrible scenes between the state parliament and the Maritim-Hotel in Dresden. A jogger was doing his lap on Friday lunchtime when he suddenly saw a person on fire.
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Rescue workers on site. © Eric Hofmann
The medical student intervened immediately around 1.30 p.m. and tried to save the man who was in mortal danger. Other first responders who were nearby also rushed to help. A petrol can is said to have stood right next to the victim.
A rescue helicopter and an emergency doctor flew to the scene. However, the seriously injured man was too unstable to fly to a special clinic in Leipzig. Therefore, the patient is now being treated in Dresden first.
According to the first information, the man is said to be in mortal danger.
Since he set himself on fire near the Saxon state parliament, the police are investigating whether the act was politically motivated. Because several witnesses had to watch the terrible scenes, a crisis intervention team moved in and looked after the people.
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The rescue helicopter in action. © Norbert Neumann
The ambulance took us to the Friedrichstadt hospital. © Norbert Neumann
Update 3:17 p.m.: Dresden Police Department with initial information
The Dresden Police Department confirmed in an initial statement that the man was seriously injured on Neue Terrasse. No information is currently available on his identity. The background to the fact is also unclear.
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Update 4:56 p.m.: Dresden crisis service offers witnesses help
Since it can be assumed that there were additional eyewitnesses or first aiders who were not noticed by the emergency services on site, the Dresden Crisis Service would like to point out ways to seek support.
Affected first aiders can contact the Unfallkasse Sachsen on Tel .: 035217240. Other affected persons can make an appointment for psychological counseling at the Dresden Crisis Service in a timely manner on Tel .: 03514885341 (Monday to Friday 9 am-11 am; dresden.de/krisendienst).
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Update 17.18: Crisis service Dresden reports death of the man
According to the Dresden crisis service, the man died. This was announced by the “Crisis Intervention & Emergency Pastoral Care Dresden eV” on Twitter.
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Update 17.31: State Police President Horst Kretzschmar confirms the death of the man
The state police chief Horst Kretzschmar has confirmed the death of the man. The man succumbed to his serious injuries in the hospital. However, its identity is still unclear. It is also still unclear whether there was a political motive.
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Update, February 13th, 6 p.m.: Burnt victims still unknown
As before, there are no new findings about the man. “The identity is still unclear,” said a spokesman for the Dresden Police Department on Saturday.
It is also unclear whether the act was politically motivated. The investigation continues.
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Usually, TAG24 does not report possible suicides. However, since the incident took place in public, the editorial team decided to address it after all.
Should you yourself be affected by thoughts of suicide, you will find contact persons at the telephone counseling service around the clock, anonymously of course. Telephone counseling: 08001110111 or 08001110222 or 08001110116123.
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Cover photo: Norbert Neumann
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